Bicycle-gear.



Patentedv Sept. 26, i899. W. K. CUWAN.

BICYCLE GEAR.

Application led Ang. 14, 1897.1

:No Model Nrrnn STATES ATENT OFFICE.

XVILLIAM K. COVAN, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

BICYCLE-G EAR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 633,753, datedSeptember 26, 1899.

Application iiled August 14:, 1897. Serial No. 648,205. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM K. COWAN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State ofCalifornia, have invented a new and useful Chainless Bicycle-Gear, ofwhich the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a practical substitute for thesprocket and chain for transmitting power from the crank to the rearwheel of abicycle. I use beveled gearing.

The fault with beveled gearing as heretofore used in bicycles is thebinding of th'e teeth between the gear-wheels. The binding is caused bythe spring of the frame or rear forks. This makes the meshing of theteeth erratic and causes the bicycle to run hard. The angles of Contactbetween the beveled gear-wheels must be fixed in their relation to eachother or the wheels will run hard and wear rapidly. If the angles ofcontact are not fixed in their relation to each other, the wheels willsometimes absolutely lock when the bicycle is traveling over roughplaces or when therider is propelling the wheel up a steep hill.

An object of my invention is to admit of the use of lighter and lessabsolutely rigid frames than heretofore and to do this by providingabsolute security against any binding of the gears from lateral actionand yet to absolutely avoid any looseness which will allow backlash.

By my invention I provide superior means for rigidly holding thebevel-gears in unvarying mesh and for coupling the counter-shaft gearstogether, so as to allow for any deflection of the frame, which isliable to occur with frames of desirable light weight.

It is a further object of my invention to attain this result by meanswhich will be extremely light and strong, and which can be applied .toany modern bicycle-frame of light or heavy weight, and which will beeasily applied and readily adjusted. I avoid the necessity of anyirregular or heavy drop-forgings.

My invention includes the combination of the bicycle crank-gear, thetransmitting-gear meshing therewith, means for holding the gears inmesh, the rear-wheel gear, the rear transmitting-gear meshing therewith,means for holding the rear gears in mesh, and the telescopicrotarytransmitting-rod connected with the transmitting gears byuniversal joints. My invention also includes the parts and combinationshereinafter described and claimed.

The accompanying drawings illustrate my invention.

Figure l is a fragmental side elevation, partly in section, showing myinvention as applied for use. Fig. 2 is a fragmental plan of the crank,rear fork, and axle of a bicycle provided with my invention. A fragmentof the wheel is also shown. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the connectionwith the rear axle. Fig. 4 is a cross-section on line 4 4, Figs. l and2, to show the connection with the crankshaft and crank-gearing. Fig. 5is a section on line 5 5, Figs. l and 2.

In the accompanying drawings, A indicates the crank-barrel.

B indicates the rear-axle bearing.

O indicates the crank-gear fastened to the crank C. D indicatestransmittinggear meshing with the crank-gear. Suitable means areprovided for holding these two gears in mesh.

E indicates the rear-wheel gear fixed on the rear axle E', and F therear transmitting-gear meshing therewith, and suitable means areprovided for holding the rear gears E F in mesh.

G indicates a telescopic rotary transmitting-rod connected with thetransmittinggears D F by universal joints, so that the connectionbetween the transmitting-gears is iiexible and extensible. Thetransmittingrod is formed of two members g and g. The member gis a rodwhich passes through a tubular connection II, (being one of the rearforks,) which connects the crank-barrel with the rear-axle bearing. Oneend of the rod member g is connected with the gear F by a universaljoint j', which is attached to the end of the axle f' of the gear F. Theother end of the rod member gis angular, preferably square, as at c, andfits into the socket g", which is connected with the beveledtransmitting-gear D by a universal joint d, which is connected with theaxle d of the gear D. The means for holding the beveled gears stationarywith relation to the gears with which IOO . gears E F with relation toeach other.

they mesh respectively are rigidly connected with the crank-barrel inthe one instance and with the rear axle in the other instance.

I indicates a bearing-block rigidly fixed to the crank-barrel, and t'indicates a ball-bearing connection between the block I and the axle CZ'of the beveled' wheel D. v

J indicates a bearing-block rigidly fastened to the crank-barrel bymeans of the strap connection 7i of the rear fork H and provided with aball-bearing j.

K indicates a bearing-block fastened to the rear-axle bearing andprovided with a ballbearing 7c for one side of the rear beveledtransmittinggear F. L indicates another block or support fastened to therear-axle bearing and provided with ball-bearings Zfor the other side ofthe rear transmitting` beveled gear. For convenience of assembling thecups 2, 3, 4, and 5 of the several ballbearings are screwed into theblocks in which they are respectively held. These ball-bearings holdtheir respective transmitting-gears against end thrust and allow thegears to rotate, and the respective transmitting-gears are held in exactposition with relation to the driving-gear C and the driven gear E, withwhich they mesh respectively. Any change of position between thecrank-gear C and the rear-wheel gear E by the straining of thebicycle-frame does not displace the gears D C with relation to eachother nor displace the The telescopic rod and universal joints whichconnect the transmitting-gears together allow these gears to rotatefreely and to change their relative positions to each other eithertoward or from each other under severe strain or to be Wrenched in alateral or vertical direction. It is to be understood that thedeflection or endwise movement will be but slight. I preferably make thesocket g adjustable by splitting the end, as at g", and binding the samewith binding-nuts m n to draw the socket to tit the end of the rodmember g to prevent undue looseness.

The tubular connection H has Yconnections h h at its ends,respectivelyfixed to the crankbarrel and to the rear-axle bearing, and thetransmittinggears are mounted within the Ys, respectively, and theconnecting rod which connects the two transmitting-gears eX- tendslengthwise through the tubular connection. The branches h 7L' of the Ysare formed of flattened tubing and are brazed or lapwelded on thecrank-barrel and rear-axle bearing-block K, respectively. By making theYs verticalthat is, with the branches one above the other-the greateststrength is secured with the least weight of material, and by arrangingthebearing-blocks J and K intermediate the ends of the branches each oneacts as a strut or brace to increase the strength of the Y, as well asfurnishing a support for the stub-axle. The location of the bearingblockat a distance from the bearing for each of the stub-axles f and d',respectively, gives a support for each axle on each side of itsbevel-gearing, thereby holding each of said axles in rigid relativeposition with the adjacent partsof the machine and always keep- 'ing itsbevel-gear in proper mesh with its companion. If it were not for thisextended bearing, or if the bearing were only on one side of thebevel-wheel, the strain upon `the bevelgear would cause it to cant orget out of proper relation to its companion, and thereby cause it toincrease the friction and Wear upon the parts. Between these rigidbearings at the ends are placed the universal and telescopicconnections, which permit the exing or springing motion of the lightframe without affecting the relation of the bevel-gears to each other.

It is to be understood that suitable dustcaps will be placed around thegearing; but these are omitted from the views for clearness ofillustration.

Now, having described my invention, what I claim as new, 'and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a bicycle, the combination with the I crank-barrel and therear-axle bearing, each of which is provided with astub-axle bearing; ofa tubular connection therebetween, each end of which is provided with avertical Y; a brace across each Y intermediate its ends, and providedwith a bearing; a stub-axle in each brace and in its respectivestub-axle bearing one end of which projects beyond the bracebearing; abevel-gearing on each stub-axle, between its bearings; bevel-gearingengaging therewith; and a flexible and telescopic connection connectingthe projecting ends of said stub-axles.

2. In a bicycle, the combination with the crank-barrel and the rear-axlebearing, each of which is provided with a stub-axle bearing; of atubular connection therebetween, each end of which is provided with avertical Y; a stub-axle journaled in each Y and in its respectivestub-axle bearing; bevel-gearing on each axle; bevel-gearing engagingtherewith; a universal joint on the projecting end of each axle, one ofwhich is provided with a telescopic member; a rod, one end of whichengages with the telescopic member and the other end engages with theother universal joint; and means for adjusting the telescopic members toeach other.

WVM. K. OOIVAN.

W'itnesses:

Jar-Es R. TowNsnND, Amann I. ToWNsEND IIO

